The Old Gaffers Association: Formed in 1963 to promote Gaff Rig

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 GAFFER’S SONG (tune: Wild Rover: Words by Claudia Myatt)

 I’ve been an old gaffer for many a year

And I spent all my money on topsails and beer

Sailed all kinds of gaffer and I’ve loved them all

But I couldn’t get on with Bermudan at all

And it’s no, ney, never, no ney never no more

Will I sail a Bermudan, no never no more

They’re tall and they’re pointy with thin pointed keels

With no grip on the water, the bloody thing heels

They’re skittish and light and they sail on their ear

And you can’t peg the tiller when you fancy a beer

And it’s no, ney, never….

Bermudans say gaffers have far too much rope

With more than two halyards they just couldn’t cope

Then up goes their kite with its miles of string

It’s got so many ropes you daren’t gybe the damn thing

And it’s no, ney, never….

They’re ok going upwind, but who wants to do that?

And that great big genoa keeps knocking you flat

That jib can’t be reefed without wrinkling the luff

So on goes the engine when the weather gets rough

And it’s no, ney, never……

Bermudan’s a gimmick, it’s not here to stay

I’d rather a gaffer to sail any day

It’s the past and the future all rolled into one

The glorious gaff cutter will sail on and on

And it’s no, ney, never………….

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